| Jordan Balazovic | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Balazovic with theSt. Paul Saints in 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Uni-President Lions | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1998-09-17)September 17, 1998 (age 27) Mississauga,Ontario, Canada | |||||||||||||||
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |||||||||||||||
| Professional debut | |||||||||||||||
| MLB: June 18, 2023, for the Minnesota Twins | |||||||||||||||
| KBO: July 14, 2024, for the Doosan Bears | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2023 season) | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 1–0 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.44 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 17 | ||||||||||||||
| KBO statistics (through 2024 season) | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 2–6 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.26 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 69 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Jordan Blake Balazovic (born September 17, 1998) is a Canadian professionalbaseballpitcher for theUni-President Lions of theChinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMinnesota Twins, and in theKBO League for theDoosan Bears.
Balazovic attendedSt. Martin Secondary School inMississauga,Ontario. He was drafted by theMinnesota Twins in the fifth round of the2016 Major League Baseball draft[1] and he signed, forgoing his commitment to playcollege baseball atAuburn University.[2]
Balazovic spent his first two professional seasons in 2016 and 2017 with theGulf Coast Twins, posting a 1.97 ERA and a 4.91 ERA, respectively. He spent 2018 with theCedar Rapids Kernels, going 7–3 with a 3.94 ERA in 12 games (11 starts),[3] and returned there to begin 2019 before being promoted to theFort Myers Miracle.[4][5] In July, he represented the Twins in the 2019All-Star Futures Game.[6] Over 19 games (18 starts) with Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers, he pitched to an 8–5 record and a 2.69 ERA, striking out 129 over93+2⁄3 innings. In July and August he played for team Canada in the2019 Pan American Games.[7]
Balazovic did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[8] The Twins added Balazovic to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.[9]
Balazovic spent the 2021 season with the Double-AWichita Wind Surge, recording a 5–4 record and 3.62 ERA with 102 strikeouts in 97.0 innings pitched across 20 starts. He pitched in 22 games (21 starts) for the Triple-ASt. Paul Saints in 2022, but struggled to an 0–7 record and 7.39 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 70.2 innings pitched.
On February 11, 2023, Balazovic suffered a broken jaw after being struck twice by a stranger and had his jaw wired shut.[10] On March 3, Balazovic was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the season.[11] He made 14 appearances, mainly working out of thebullpen,[12] and logged a 4.79 ERA with 50 strikeouts in35+2⁄3 innings of work. On June 18, Balazovic was promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Jorge Lopez was placed on the injured list.[13] In the major leagues, Balazovic recorded a 1–0 record and a 4.44 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 24.1 innings pitched over 18 games. He wasdesignated for assignment on February 7, 2024.[14] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on February 13.
On July 4, 2024, Balazovic signed with theDoosan Bears of theKBO League.[15][16] He made 12 starts for the Bears, posting a 2–6 record with a 4.26 ERA and 69 strikeouts across 57 innings pitched. Balazovic became a free agent following the season.
On December 22, 2024, Balazovic signed a minor league contract with theDetroit Tigers.[17] He made 37 appearances for the High-AWest Michigan Whitecaps and Triple-AScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2025, posting a cumulative 5-1 record and 3.75 ERA with 53 strikeouts and onesave across57+2⁄3 innings pitched. Balazovic elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2025.[18]
On January 9, 2026, Balazovic signed with theUni-President Lions of theChinese Professional Baseball League.[19]
